Rio Ferdinand attacks Uefa over fight against racism
Manchester United's England defender Rio Ferdinand has accused UEFA of not doing enough to combat racism in the European game.
Ferdinand criticised the fines issued after England players suffered racist taunts in a friendly in Spain in November 2004, though both the match and sanctions were a matter for world ruling body FIFA, rather than its European arm.
"For too long now, European football authorities have not taken the problem of racism in the game seriously and refuse to acknowledge how widespread the problem is," Ferdinand said in a statement on Tuesday March 14th 2006.
The England defender's comments came as the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a resolution on Tuesday which will provide extra sanctions for tackling racist behaviour by giving referees the power to abandon matches.
Clubs or countries whose supporters, players or officials persistently commit racist offences also risk being thrown out of competitions under the plan which will be discussed by UEFA as part of an independent review of the game in the European Union.
Launched in December, the review will investigate how the game is run across the 25-member bloc and is expected to deliver its report in June.
Ferdinand said: "It is time for UEFA to stop paying lip-service to the problem. The fines handed out after the England-Spain game (100,000 Swiss francs) were a joke.
"UEFA should look at imposing huge fines or deducting points within tournaments or competitions."
Zero Tolerance
Former Chelsea and Celtic defender Paul Elliot told the Parliament that racism is the biggest challenge facing the game across the globe.
"We need a zero tolerance approach and today's resolution gives us an historic opportunity to do this," Elliot said.
This view was echoed by UEFA spokesman William Gaillard who said political sanctions were needed to enforce his organisation's decisions.
Gaillard pointed out UEFA's lack of jurisdiction over the England-Spain match or in the recent abuse faced by Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o in a Spanish league match.
"UEFA imposed sanctions in tens of hundreds of thousands last year," Gaillard said.
"We have banned stadiums for up to four games, have closed sections of stadiums in a number of countries.
"I think UEFA have been relentless in their fight against racism but we need sanctions from politicians in some countries to protect us from the wrath of clubs who are hit with these sanctions."
British member of the European Parliament and former referee Chris Heaton-Harris said the perpetrators always get off lightly.
"They've basically been getting away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist but today shows that there is political will to support UEFA in showing racism the red card," the politician said.
Source: Super Soccer
Ferdinand criticised the fines issued after England players suffered racist taunts in a friendly in Spain in November 2004, though both the match and sanctions were a matter for world ruling body FIFA, rather than its European arm.
"For too long now, European football authorities have not taken the problem of racism in the game seriously and refuse to acknowledge how widespread the problem is," Ferdinand said in a statement on Tuesday March 14th 2006.
The England defender's comments came as the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a resolution on Tuesday which will provide extra sanctions for tackling racist behaviour by giving referees the power to abandon matches.
Clubs or countries whose supporters, players or officials persistently commit racist offences also risk being thrown out of competitions under the plan which will be discussed by UEFA as part of an independent review of the game in the European Union.
Launched in December, the review will investigate how the game is run across the 25-member bloc and is expected to deliver its report in June.
Ferdinand said: "It is time for UEFA to stop paying lip-service to the problem. The fines handed out after the England-Spain game (100,000 Swiss francs) were a joke.
"UEFA should look at imposing huge fines or deducting points within tournaments or competitions."
Zero Tolerance
Former Chelsea and Celtic defender Paul Elliot told the Parliament that racism is the biggest challenge facing the game across the globe.
"We need a zero tolerance approach and today's resolution gives us an historic opportunity to do this," Elliot said.
This view was echoed by UEFA spokesman William Gaillard who said political sanctions were needed to enforce his organisation's decisions.
Gaillard pointed out UEFA's lack of jurisdiction over the England-Spain match or in the recent abuse faced by Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o in a Spanish league match.
"UEFA imposed sanctions in tens of hundreds of thousands last year," Gaillard said.
"We have banned stadiums for up to four games, have closed sections of stadiums in a number of countries.
"I think UEFA have been relentless in their fight against racism but we need sanctions from politicians in some countries to protect us from the wrath of clubs who are hit with these sanctions."
British member of the European Parliament and former referee Chris Heaton-Harris said the perpetrators always get off lightly.
"They've basically been getting away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist but today shows that there is political will to support UEFA in showing racism the red card," the politician said.
Source: Super Soccer
posted by garrettmullan
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